A Wirral shop has been shut down for the second time this year after thousands of illegal cigarettes were found stashed in a washing machine. Wallasey Shop on Brighton Street, Wallasey is one of two Wirral convenience stores to have been closed after more than 35,000 illegal cigarettes were seized by officers.
Closure orders granted by court
The closure orders, granted at Wirral Magistrates' Court and obtained by Trading Standards and legal services officers, are the 24th and 25th issued in the borough since December last year. The closure at Wallasey Shop is the second time it has been slapped with a three-month closure order this year.
The store, which is located a stone's throw from Wirral Council's headquarters at Wallasey Town Hall, first had its doors shut in April. The store reopened following the expiry of the previous order and a change of tenant to Amir Mahmadi.
Test purchase leads to search
However, Wirral Trading Standards received further complaints from members of the public that illegal cigarettes and hand-rolling tobacco were being sold from the store. This led to a test purchase of counterfeit cigarettes before Trading Standards and police officers visited the shop.
During their search, officers found 2,500 illegal cigarettes and over 1kg of hand-rolling tobacco hidden inside a washing machine. The court deemed that criminal activity had taken place at the premises and Mr Mahmadi, the sole owner of the business, was ordered to pay £800 in costs.
Second store closed
Store 4 You on Wallasey Road has also been shut. An initial test purchase in June resulted in the sale of a counterfeit packet of cigarettes for £5. On September 11, Trading Standards and police officers carried out an enforcement operation at the premises and the home address of Brwa Salam Mohammed, the owner of the business.
The search led to officers finding over 11,000 illegal cigarettes and 3.5kg of illegal hand-rolling tobacco inside a vehicle. Mr Mohammed was also found to be carrying three packets of illegal cigarettes when searched by police.
At Mr Mohammed's home address, 22,600 illegal cigarettes and 3kg of illegal hand-rolling tobacco was found inside a bed.
Council response
Cllr Jenny Johnson, chair of Wirral Council's tourism, communities, culture and leisure committee, said: "Trading Standards officers and multi-agency partners are continuing to send a clear message that the illegal sale of tobacco and vape products is not prohibited. I commend them for the work they are carrying out.
"These cut-price and unregulated products carry additional risks to consumers and are more accessible to underage customers - significantly undermining public health’s efforts around tobacco control and cessation.
"The crimes committed are not victimless. They pose risks to public health and the environment and they can often be linked with organised crime.
"It is also unfair on legitimate, law-abiding business owners who are being financially impacted. The council is taking strong, decisive action."
